set in motion

Idioms  

1. Start something moving, give impetus to something, as in A press conference set the new project in motion. It is also put as set the wheels in motion, as in Let's set the wheels in motion for the new library wing. This idiom dates from about 1800. It was preceded by put in motion, which dates from the mid-1600s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

set in motion

Karyoptosis refers to a series of chemical reactions set in motion when toxic proteins accumulate inside a cell.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026

She cautioned that "if tensions were to arise on that front, for example in the event of a change in interest rates or market sentiment, contagion effects could be set in motion".

From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026

Feinberg helped set in motion the administration’s new defense budget, a $441 billion increase over last year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026

Staff had set in motion new rule-making to restrict U.S. sales of those products before they were put on hold and office leadership dismissed, according to officials familiar with the process.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

Once set in motion, the plan could not be stopped without putting Germany at a crippling disadvantage.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• commence
• create
• do
• establish
• found
• go ahead
• go into
• inaugurate
• initiate
• introduce
• launch
• lead
• make
• open
• prepare
• produce
• set up
• start
• undertake